Private equity firm hoping for valuation up to ?16 billionGoing public would allow firm to expand and diversify modelAmsterdam market picked over New York and LondonPrivate capital investment firm CVC Capital Partners hopes to get an IPO (initial public offering) away at the third attempt later this month.The London-based buyout giant, which owns stakes in Liptons Tea, upmarket watch maker Breitli

Equity prices in Europe fell sharply on Wednesday, as the prospect of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in March became less of a certainty and more of a toss-up.While a cut by the Federal Reserve in March still the most likely outcome, the odds of one happening have shrunk in recent days. Futures traders have assigned a probability of 57% that the Fed cuts in March. That probability sat as high

European equities struggled to find their groove on Tuesday, as the FTSE 100 finds gains hard to come by in a tricky January so far, while stocks in New York are set for a tepid return to trading.The FTSE 100 index was down 36.20 points, 0.5%, at 7,558.71. It has fallen over 2% since the start of the year. Heading into Tuesday, it had 10 days of trading in the new year. It rose in just three of th

Stocks in London saw mixed fortunes at Wednesday?s market open, with the flagship FTSE 100 held back by a strong pound.The FTSE 100 index opened down 37.16 points, 0.5%, at 7,418.08. The FTSE 250 was up 71.67 points, 0.4%, at 18,458.67, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.6 points, 0.2%, at 714.19.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 740.29, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.4% at 15,998.72, and the Cboe Small Comp

Since being spun out of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (PFE:NYSE) a decade ago shares in leading animal health company Zoetis (ZTS:NYSE) have gone up more than five-fold.UK peer Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) has delivered shareholders a similar return over the same period but is leaving the UK stock market after accepting an all cash £4.5 billion takeover from Swedish private equity firm EQT in June

Quarterly review due in weeks Four likely winners and losersA further three stocks could drop outWe may only be half-way through the third quarter, but already it looks as though there will be quite a few changes to the benchmark FTSE 100 index when the topic comes up for review next month.Promotion to, and demotion from, the index can have a big effect on the share prices of the firms concerned a

European equities went into the afternoon solidly in positive territory on Wednesday, with stock market investors expecting figures to show US inflation eased last month.A hotter-than-expected reading, however, could spell difficulty for equity markets and lend some support to the dollar, which was on the back foot.Amid a generally positive mood in equity markets, it was London-listed banking stoc

Stocks in London closed higher on Friday as the latest US employment report proved red-hot, while commodity stocks saw a boost from possible support measures for China's property market.The FTSE 100 index closed up 117.01 points, or 1.6% at 7,607.28 on Friday, and closed the week 0.5% higher.The FTSE 250 ended up 321.55 points, or 1.7%, at 19,149.31 - ending the week up 1.6%. The AIM All-Share clo

Market attention on Friday turned to the US employment report and, further out, the next interest rate decision by the Federal Reserve, after legislators passed a bill that will prevent the US government from defaulting on its debts.Stocks were higher ahead of the May nonfarm payrolls report, due out at 1330 BST.The FTSE 100 index was up 74.26 points, 1.0%, at 7,564.53 at midday in London. The FTS

EQT trims bid price on lowered outlookSwedish investor a specialist in healthcarePrice still represents a 44% premiumShares in FTSE 250 veterinary drug maker Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) gained 8% to £36.45 after the firm agreed a final bid from Swedish investor EQT.The bid, at £38.75 per share, is lower than the previous price of £40.70, but still represents a 44% premium to the undisturbed sh

Stocks were rising early Friday, as a week dominated by the US government's flirtation with debt default was ending with some certainty, following passage of a bill to raise the debt limit by Congress.As US President Joe Biden prepares to sign the legislation into law, attention now turns to the key US nonfarm payrolls report for May, due at 1330 BST.The FTSE 100 index was up 49.33 points, 0.7%, a

Dechra downgrades full year profit on trading headwindsCompany remains in takeover discussionsDeal deadline two weeks awayShares in global veterinary pharmaceutical specialist Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) fell by a tenth to £33.06 on Monday after the company downgraded full year profit guidance for the second time in as many months.The shares currently sit 18% below the potential £40.70 offer pr

Slowing growth coupled with heightened uncertainty is never a good combination for stock markets. Smaller company shares tend to deteriorate more because their operational risks are seen to be more concentrated versus large-cap peers.History shows that smaller companies tend to underperform larger ones during economic downturns, so given the gloomy backdrop, many investors will happily avoid small

It seems barely a week goes by without a UK firm falling prey to an opportunistic takeover approach. Typically, the bidders are non-UK and the targets are small and mid-cap companies.Many UK stocks trade on cheap valuations and unless the market recognises their attractions and bids up the price, they could be vulnerable to takeovers.Private equity companies, in particular, are sitting on lots of

London's stocks finished higher on Friday, following some positive earnings from some big banks in the US, as well as a recent US producer price index print lifting hope that the the Federal Reserve's hikes may come to an end.The FTSE 100 index closed up 28.53 points, or 0.4% at 7,871.91 on Friday, ending the week 2.7% higher.The FTSE 250 ended up 172.56 points, or 0.9%, at 19,242.69, finishing th

Stocks in Europe were on the up on Friday afternoon, while the dollar struggled as investors bet that the Federal Reserve will soon call time on its hiking cycle.US banking earnings were also in focus. Numbers from JPMorgan impressed. Earnings from Citi are still to come.The FTSE 100 index was up 25.63 points, or 0.3% at 7,869.01. The FTSE 250 was up 212.33 points, or 1.1%, at 19,282.46, and the A

- PE approaches for Dechra and Network International- Dechra all-cash potential offer implies 47% premium- Network International receives preliminary offerPrivate equity deals can be like the proverbial number nine bus, nothing arrives for ages then two come along at once.After the market close on Thursday, Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) said it was in discussions with private equity group EQT regar

Stock markets were on the up early Friday, with a recent US producer price index print lifting hope that the end of the Federal Reserve's hiking cycle is nearing.Focus later on Friday will be on banking sector earnings, with JPMorgan Chase among those reporting.The FTSE 100 index opened up 18.70 points, 0.2% at 7,862.08. The FTSE 250 was up 145.77 points, 0.8% at 19,215.90, and the AIM All-Share w

Listing shares on a stock market used to be the default option for many businesses, providing them with access to a large pool of investors to tap up for funding and the ability to use their shares to pay for acquisitions.However, private equity funding now provides many businesses with a lot of the benefits of a public listing but without all the hassle.Even though an increasing number of busines

UK shares were decimated on Friday as panic selling swept the market on Black Friday leaving investors facing an equities sea of red.The benchmark FTSE 100 finished the day 266 points lower, or 3.6% down, at 7,044.03, with the state of mid-caps barely any better. The FTSE 250 lost nearly 750 point, or 3.2% as it closed at 22,573.89.Sharp falls in anything travel or leisure related bore the brunt o